The "War Horse" actor joins the thriller, which will begin shooting in New Mexico at the end of the month.

Jeremy Irvine, who starred in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, has signed on to topline in The Reach opposite Michael Douglas.

Jean-Baptiste Leonetti is directing the thriller, which will begin shooting in New Mexico at the end of the month.

Stephen Susco wrote the script, which in two-hander fashion sees a hunting enthusiast Douglas hire a guide (Irvine) for a trek through the desert. The two start off on the wrong foot and things only get worse when the hunter kills a prospector. The hunter then becomes a merciless torturer to the guide and puts him through painful mental and physical tests in the middle of the sweltering desert.

Douglas and Robert Mitas are among the producers. Good Universe is handling international sales.

Irvine is in Toronto for the Friday night premiere of The Railway Man in which he appears opposite Colin Firth. He recently wrapped production on the period drama The World Made Straight and is due to star in both The Woman in Black: Angels of Death and Fallen. He made his feature debut with War Horse, Spielberg's adaptation of the acclaimed stage play.